With the Supreme Court (SC) lifting the ban on dance bars in the state, the police department has received 80 applications for performance licences from bar owners across the city.
Most of the applicants are bar owners, who had the licence earlier.
“We have received 80
applications so far. We have approached the state home department for instructions on the future course of action,” said Sharada Raut, deputy commissioner of police, in charge of issuing performance licences.

While the court had lifted the ban on July 16, the state government is yet to take any action.

The state home department has now sought legal opinion on the issue.

“As announced by home minister RR Patil, we are working on an ordinance to ban dance bars. We are awaiting legal opinion to finalise the clauses.

The ordinance is expected to be ready soon,” said Medha Gadgil, principal secretary, home department.

To get a performance licence, the bar owner needs to make an application with details including the site plan, location of the bar and area around it.

According to the Bombay Police Act, 1951, the bar owner should not have a criminal record.

Also, the bar should not be located in a residential area, and should be 75m away from any religious place, hospital, educational institution or other bar.

The owner needs to pay Rs1,80,000 annually as fee for the licence.

“The other option being considered is making getting licences more difficult by adding stringent conditions and making the annual fee unaffordable,” said a government official, on condition of anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to the media.